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LENNOACEAE

LENNOA FAMILY

George Yatskievych

Annual, perennial herb, non-green root-parasite
Stem (actually a peduncle) fleshy, underground, generally unbranched, white or ± brown
Leaves scale-like, alternate
Inflorescence: panicle, spike, or head
Flower bisexual, ± radial; calyx lobes 4–10; corolla lobes 4–10; stamens as many as corolla lobes, epipetalous, included; ovary superior, chambers 10–32, placentas axile, style 1, stigma lobes 5–9
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile, hidden by persistent perianth
Seeds in a ring, 1 per chamber, ± reniform, flat, brown
Genera in family: 2 genera, 4 species: sw US to n South America, nowhere common; some historically harvested for food
Reference: [Yatskievych & Mason 1986 Syst Bot 11:531–548]

PHOLISMA

Perennial
Stem < 1.5 m
Leaf 5–25 mm, linear to triangular, glandular
Flower 7–10 mm
Fruit ± circumscissile below middle
Species in genus: 3 species: s CA, w AZ, nw Mex
Etymology: (Greek: scale, from scaly stem)

Native

P. sonorae (A. Gray) Yatsk.

SAND FOOD


Stem 5–15 dm, 0.5–2 cm diam
Flower: calyx lobes linear; corolla pink to purple, margin white, exterior glabrous; ovary chambers 12–32
Chromosomes: 2n=36
Ecology: Dunes, sandy areas
Elevation: < 0–200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Sonoran Desert (se Imperial Co.)
Distribution outside California: w Arizona, nw Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–May
Parasitic on Eriogonum , Tiquilia , Ambrosia , Pluchea
Synonyms: Ammobroma s. A. Gray
Threatened by off-road vehicles.

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